Back to work: PH Senate majority eager to move forward with legislative work

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday welcomed the election of Senator Sherwin Gatchalian as Senate President, noting that the Senate is back in order and ready to resume work on pending legislation and investigations.

Speaking to reporters during the special session, Hontiveros expressed her satisfaction with the leadership transition and thanked Senator Joel Villanueva for joining the bloc that elected the new leadership.

Aside from Gatchalian, the other senators who were elected on Wednesday included: Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III as Senate President Pro Tempore and Senator Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri as Majority Leader.

Hontiveros said, “Very happy to be back to work."

According to Hontiveros, the Senate immediately returned to legislative work, citing the approval on second reading of the proposed Magna Carta of Barangay Health Workers during the first half of the special session.

She expressed hope that lawmakers would also advance other priority measures, including the Anti-Hospital Detention Bill and amendments to the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children law.

Hontiveros also renewed her call for senators from both the majority and minority blocs to unite in supporting relief and rehabilitation efforts for communities affected by calamities in Mindanao.

She said senators from the majority had begun contributing one month’s salary for the effort and extended the invitation to their colleagues in the minority. “Let the whole Senate stand with Mindanao,” she said.

The senator added that with the leadership issue settled, lawmakers should focus on pending legislative work, investigations, the national budget, and the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

“Dapat sana kaming lahat sa buong Senado, lahat ng senador, majority at minority, ay magkaisa at least dun sa basic na balik-trabaho po kaming lahat,” Hontiveros said.

She specifically cited the continuation of investigations, including the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s probe into alleged irregularities in flood control projects.

Asked about the petition filed by the bloc of former Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano before the Supreme Court questioning the validity of the June 3 Senate session, Hontiveros maintained that the chamber remains functional and orderly.

Hontiveros said the Senate would respect any future action by the Supreme Court but would continue performing its duties while awaiting any ruling.

“We will cross the bridge when we get there,” she said, referring to the pending petition.

She added that the Senate would continue working with the House of Representatives, including through the Commission on Appointments, while lawmakers seek to catch up on measures delayed during the past several weeks.

“At kami po ay magsisipag sa aming trabaho, habulin yung mga nabinbin trabaho nung nakaraang limang linggo, at patuloy na magsilbi sa ating mga kababayan,” Hontiveros said.

SENATOR PANGILINAN: TIME TO GO BACK TO WORK

Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan also expressed his relief that the Senate is back to work.

In a news release on Wednesday, Pangilinan said, "panahon na para bumalik tayo sa trabaho."

Pangilinan, chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform, said the Senate hearings on agricultural smuggling and rising food prices will resume.

The Senator emphasized the urgent need to protect farmers, fisherfolk, and consumers from illegal trade and market manipulation.

Despite the recent leadership deadlock, he has been conducting fieldwork and meeting with stakeholders to address the factors driving high food prices and to hold individuals accountable for the continued entry of smuggled goods, such as the onions recently abandoned at the Manila International Container Port.

Moving forward, the committee remains committed to investigating the effectiveness of border controls and enforcing anti-smuggling laws.

Pangilinan has also pledged to enact policies aimed at stabilizing food prices and strengthening the local agricultural sector.

-Paraluman News